Microarray transcriptional profiling of Arctic Mesorhizobium strain N33 at low temperature provides insights into cold adaption strategies.

BACKGROUND: Arctic Mesorhizobium strain N33 was isolated from nodules of the legume Oxytropis arctobia in Canada's eastern Arctic. This symbiotic bacterium can grow at temperatures ranging from 0 to 30 °C, fix nitrogen at 10 °C, and is one of the best known cold-adapted rhizobia. Despite the economic potential of this bacterium for northern regions, the key molecular mechanisms of its cold adaptation remain poorly understood. RESULTS: Using a microarray printed with 5760 Arctic Mesorhizobium genomic clones, we performed a partial transcriptome analysis of strain N33 grown under eight different temperature conditions, including both sustained and transient cold treatments, compared with cells grown at room temperature. Cells treated under constant (4 and 10 °C) low temperatures expressed a prominent number of induced genes distinct from cells treated to short-term cold-exposure (<60 min), but exhibited an intermediate expression profile when exposed to a prolonged cold exposure (240 min). The most prominent up-regulated genes encode proteins involved in metabolite transport, transcription regulation, protein turnover, oxidoreductase activity, cryoprotection (mannitol, polyamines), fatty acid metabolism, and membrane fluidity. The main categories of genes affected in N33 during cold treatment are sugar transport and protein translocation, lipid biosynthesis, and NADH oxidoreductase (quinone) activity. Some genes were significantly down-regulated and classified in secretion, energy production and conversion, amino acid transport, cell motility, cell envelope and outer membrane biogenesis functions. This might suggest growth cessation or reduction, which is an important strategy to adjust cellular function and save energy under cold stress conditions. CONCLUSION: Our analysis revealed a complex series of changes associated with cold exposure adaptation and constant growth at low temperatures. Moreover, it highlighted some of the strategies and different physiological states that Mesorhizobium strain N33 has developed to adapt to the cold environment of the Canadian high Arctic and has revealed candidate genes potentially involved in cold adaptation.

Optimization of transplastomic production of hemicellulases in tobacco: effects of expression cassette configuration and tobacco cultivar used as production platform on recombinant protein yields.

BACKGROUND: Chloroplast transformation in tobacco has been used extensively to produce recombinant proteins and enzymes. Chloroplast expression cassettes can be designed with different configurations of the cis-acting elements that govern foreign gene expression. With the aim to optimize production of recombinant hemicellulases in transplastomic tobacco, we developed a set of cassettes that incorporate elements known to facilitate protein expression in chloroplasts and examined expression and accumulation of a bacterial xylanase XynA. Biomass production is another important factor in achieving sustainable and high-volume production of cellulolytic enzymes. Therefore, we compared productivity of two tobacco cultivars - a low-alkaloid and a high-biomass - as transplastomic expression platforms. RESULTS: Four different cassettes expressing XynA produced various mutant phenotypes of the transplastomic plants, affected their growth rate and resulted in different accumulation levels of the XynA enzyme. The most productive cassette was identified and used further to express XynA and two additional fungal xylanases, Xyn10A and Xyn11B, in a high-biomass tobacco cultivar. The high biomass cultivar allowed for a 60% increase in XynA production per plant. Accumulation of the fungal enzymes reached more than 10-fold higher levels than the bacterial enzyme, constituting up to 6% of the total soluble protein in the leaf tissue. Use of a well-characterized translational enhancer with the selected expression cassette revealed inconsistent effects on accumulation of the recombinant xylanases. Additionally, differences in the enzymatic activity of crude plant extracts measured in leaves of different age suggest presence of a specific xylanase inhibitor in the green leaf tissue. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate the pivotal importance of the expression cassette design and appropriate tobacco cultivar for high-level transplastomic production of recombinant proteins.

Molecular physiology and breeding at the crossroads of cold hardiness improvement.

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is a major forage legume grown extensively worldwide with important agronomic and environmental attributes. Insufficient cold hardiness is a major impediment to its reliable production in northern climates. Improvement of freezing tolerance using conventional breeding approaches is slowed by the quantitative nature of inheritance and strong interactions with the environment. The development of gene-based markers would facilitate the identification of genotypes with superior stress tolerance. Successive cycles of recurrent selection were applied using an indoor screening method to develop populations with significantly higher tolerance to freezing (TF). Bulk segregant analysis of heterogeneous TF populations identified DNA variations that are progressively enriched in frequency in response to selection. Polymorphisms resulting from intragenic variations within a dehydrin gene were identified and could potentially lead to the development of robust selection tools. Our results illustrate the benefits of feedback interactions between germplasm development programs and molecular physiology for a deeper understanding of the molecular and genetic bases of cold hardiness.

Metabolomic analysis of cold acclimation of Arctic Mesorhizobium sp. strain N33.

Arctic Mesorhizobium sp. N33 isolated from nodules of Oxytropis arctobia in Canada's eastern Arctic has a growth temperature range from 0 °C to 30 °C and is a well-known cold-adapted rhizobia. The key molecular mechanisms underlying cold adaptation in Arctic rhizobia remains totally unknown. Since the concentration and contents of metabolites are closely related to stress adaptation, we applied GC-MS and NMR to identify and quantify fatty acids and water soluble compounds possibly related to low temperature acclimation in strain N33. Bacterial cells were grown at three different growing temperatures (4 °C, 10 °C and 21 °C). Cells from 21 °C were also cold-exposed to 4°C for different times (2, 4, 8, 60 and 240 minutes). We identified that poly-unsaturated linoleic acids 18:2 (9, 12) & 18:2 (6, 9) were more abundant in cells growing at 4 or 10 °C, than in cells cultivated at 21 °C. The mono-unsaturated phospho/neutral fatty acids myristoleic acid 14:1(11) were the most significantly overexpressed (45-fold) after 1 hour of exposure to 4 °C. As reported in the literature, these fatty acids play important roles in cold adaptability by supplying cell membrane fluidity, and by providing energy to cells. Analysis of water-soluble compounds revealed that isobutyrate, sarcosine, threonine and valine were more accumulated during exposure to 4 °C. These metabolites might play a role in conferring cold acclimation to strain N33 at 4 °C, probably by acting as cryoprotectants. Isobutyrate was highly upregulated (19.4-fold) during growth at 4 °C, thus suggesting that this compound is a precursor for the cold-regulated fatty acids modification to low temperature adaptation.

Technoeconomic analysis of wheat straw densification in the Canadian Prairie Province of Manitoba.

This study presents a technoeconomic analysis of wheat straw densification in Canada's prairie province of Manitoba as an integral part of biomass-to-cellulosic-ethanol infrastructure. Costs of wheat straw bale and pellet transportation and densification are analysed, including densification plant profitability. Wheat straw collection radius increases nonlinearly with pellet plant capacity, from 9.2 to 37km for a 2-35tonnesh(-1) plant. Bales are cheaper under 250km, beyond which the cheapest feedstocks are pellets from the largest pellet plant that can be built to exploit economies of scale. Feedstocks account for the largest percentage of variable costs. Marginal and average cost curves suggest Manitoba could support a pellet plant up to 35tonnesh(-1). Operating below capacity (75-50%) significantly erodes a plant's net present value (NPV). Smaller plants require higher NPV break-even prices. Very large plants have considerable risk under low pellet prices and increased processing costs.

Intron-length polymorphism identifies a Y2K4 dehydrin variant linked to superior freezing tolerance in alfalfa.

Breeding alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) with superior freezing tolerance could be accelerated by the identification of molecular markers associated to that trait. Dehydrins are a group of highly hydrophilic proteins that have been related to low temperature tolerance. We previously identified a dehydrin restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) among populations recurrently selected for superior tolerance to freezing (TF). Analysis of crosses between genotypes with (D+) or without (D-) that RFLP revealed a significant impact on freezing tolerance. In this study, we sought to develop a PCR marker for freezing tolerance based on prior evidence of a relationship between size variation in Y(2)K(4) dehydrins and the RFLP. Results confirm the enrichment of Y(2)K(4) sequences of intermediate size (G2 group) in response to recurrent selection and in the D+ progeny. Analysis of genomic sequences revealed significant intron-length polymorphism (ILP) within the G2 group. G2 sequences with a characteristic short intron were more frequently found in D+ genotypes. Amplification using sequence-characterized amplified region (SCAR) primers bordering the intron confirmed an increase in the number of fragments with small introns in the D+ progeny and in the ATF5 population obtained after five cycles of recurrent selection for superior TF within the cultivar Apica (ATF0). Conversely, there was a reduction in the number of fragments with long introns in the D+ progeny and in ATF5 as compared to ATF0. Recurrent selection for superior tolerance to freezing in combination with ILP identified a sequence variant of Y(2)K(4) dehydrins associated to the phenotypic response to selection.

Control of somatic embryogenesis and embryo development by AP2 transcription factors.

Members of the AP2 family of transcription factors, such as BABY BOOM (BBM), play important roles in cell proliferation and embryogenesis in Arabidopsis thaliana (AtBBM) and Brassica napus (BnBBM) but how this occurs is not understood. We have isolated three AP2 genes (GmBBM1, GmAIL5, GmPLT2) from somatic embryo cultures of soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merr, and discovered GmBBM1 to be homologous to AtBBM and BnBBM. GmAIL5 and GmPLT2 were homologous to Arabidopsis AINTEGUMENTA-like5 (AIL5) and PLETHORA2 (PLT2), respectively. Constitutive expression of GmBBM1 in Arabidopsis induced somatic embryos on vegetative organs and other pleiotropic effects on post-germinative vegetative organ development. Sequence comparisons of BBM orthologues revealed the presence of ten sequence motifs outside of the AP2 DNA-binding domains. One of the motifs, bbm-1, was specific to the BBM-like genes. Deletion and domain swap analyses revealed that bbm-1 was important for somatic embryogenesis and acted cooperatively with at least one other motif, euANT2, in the regulation of somatic embryogenesis and embryo development in transgenic Arabidopsis. The results provide new insights into the mechanisms by which BBM governs embryogenesis.

SRAP polymorphisms associated with superior freezing tolerance in alfalfa (Medicago sativa spp. sativa).

Sequence-related amplified polymorphism (SRAP) analysis was used to uncover genetic polymorphisms among alfalfa populations recurrently selected for superior tolerance to freezing (TF populations). Bulk DNA samples (45 plants/bulk) from each of the cultivar Apica (ATF0), and populations ATF2, ATF4, ATF5, and ATF6 were evaluated with 42 different SRAP primer pairs. Several polymorphisms that progressively intensified or decreased with the number of recurrent cycles were identified. Four positive polymorphisms (F10-R14, Me4-R8, F10-R8 and F11-R9) that, respectively, yielded 540-, 359-, 213-, and 180-bp fragments were selected for further analysis. SRAP amplifications with genotypes within ATF populations confirmed that the polymorphisms identified with bulk DNA samples were reflecting changes in the frequency of their occurrence in response to selection. In addition, the number of genotypes cumulating multiple polymorphisms markedly increased in response to recurrent selection. Independent segregation of the four SRAP polymorphisms suggests location at unlinked loci. Homology search gave matches with BAC clones from syntenic Medicago truncatula for the four SRAP fragments. Analysis of the relationship with low temperature tolerance showed that multiple SRAP polymorphisms are more frequent in genotypes that maintain superior regrowth after freezing. These results show that SRAP analysis of bulk DNA samples from recurrent selections is an effective approach for the identification of genetic polymorphisms associated with quantitative traits in allogamous species. These polymorphisms could be useful tools for indirect selection of freezing tolerance in alfalfa.

Dehydrin variants associated with superior freezing tolerance in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.).

A cDNA (msaCIG) encoding a cold-inducible Y(2)K(4) dehydrin in alfalfa (Medicago sativa spp. sativa) was shown to share extensive homology with sequences from other species and subspecies of Medicago. Differences were mainly the result of the occurrence of large indels, amino acids substitutions/deletions and sequence duplications. Using a combination of a bulk segregant analysis and RFLP hybridization, we uncovered an msaCIG polymorphism that increases in frequency in response to recurrent selection for superior freezing tolerance. Progenies from crosses between genotypes with (D+) or without (D-) the polymorphic dehydrin significantly differed in their tolerance to subfreezing temperatures. Based on the msaCIG sequence, we looked for intragenic variations that could be associated to the polymorphism detected on Southern blots. Amplifications with primers targeting the 3' half side of msaCIG revealed fragment size variations between pools of genotypes with (+) or without (-) the polymorphism. Three major groups of amplicons of approximately 370 nt (G1), 330 nt (G2), and 290 nt (G3) were distinguished. The G2 group was more intensively amplified in pools of genotypes with the polymorphic dehydrin and was associated to a superior freezing tolerance phenotype. Sequences analysis revealed that size variation in the 3' half was attributable to the variable occurrence of large indels. Single amino acid substitutions and/or deletions caused major differences in the prediction of the secondary structure of the polypeptides. The identification of dehydrin variants associated to superior freezing tolerance paves the way to the development of functional markers and the fixation of favorable alleles in various genetic backgrounds.

Detection and identification of multiple genetically modified events using DNA insert fingerprinting.

Current screening and event-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays for the detection and identification of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in samples of unknown composition or for the detection of non-regulated GMOs have limitations, and alternative approaches are required. A transgenic DNA fingerprinting methodology using restriction enzyme digestion, adaptor ligation, and nested PCR was developed where individual GMOs are distinguished by the characteristic fingerprint pattern of the fragments generated. The inter-laboratory reproducibility of the amplified fragment sizes using different capillary electrophoresis platforms was compared, and reproducible patterns were obtained with an average difference in fragment size of 2.4 bp. DNA insert fingerprints for 12 different maize events, including two maize hybrids and one soy event, were generated that reflected the composition of the transgenic DNA constructs. Once produced, the fingerprint profiles were added to a database which can be readily exchanged and shared between laboratories. This approach should facilitate the process of GMO identification and characterization.

Nitrogen reserves, spring regrowth and winter survival of field-grown alfalfa (Medicago sativa) defoliated in the autumn.

AIMS: The objective of the study was to characterize variations in proline, arginine, histidine, vegetative storage proteins, and cold-inducible gene expression in overwintering roots of field-grown alfalfa, in response to autumn defoliation, and in relation to spring regrowth and winter survival. METHODS: Field trials, established in 1996 in eastern Canada, consisted of two alfalfa cultivars ('AC Caribou' and 'WL 225') defoliated in 1997 and 1998 either only twice during the summer or three times with the third defoliation taken 400, 500 or 600 growing degree days (basis 5 degrees C) after the second summer defoliation. KEY RESULTS: The root accumulation of proline, arginine, histidine and soluble proteins of 32, 19 and 15 kDa, characterized as alfalfa vegetative storage proteins, was reduced the following spring by an early autumn defoliation at 400 or 500 growing degree days in both cultivars; the 600-growing-degree-days defoliation treatment had less or no effect. Transcript levels of the cold-inducible gene msaCIA, encoding a glycine-rich protein, were markedly reduced by autumn defoliation in 'WL 225', but remained unaffected in the more winter-hardy cultivar 'AC Caribou'. The expression of another cold-inducible gene, the dehydrin homologue msaCIG, was not consistently affected by autumn defoliation. Principal component analyses, including components of root organic reserves at the onset of winter, along with yield and plant density in the following spring, revealed that (a) amino acids and soluble proteins are positively related to the vigour of spring regrowth but poorly related to winter survival and (b) winter survival, as indicated by plant density in the spring, is associated with higher concentrations of cryoprotective sugars in alfalfa roots the previous autumn. CONCLUSIONS: An untimely autumn defoliation of alfalfa reduces root accumulation of specific N reserves such as proline, arginine, histidine and vegetative storage proteins that are positively related to the vigour of spring regrowth but poorly related to winter survival.

Potato flour viscosity improvement is associated with the expression of a wheat LMW-glutenin gene.

It has been previously shown that expression of a high-molecular-weight glutenin (HMW-GS) in transgenic wheat seeds resulted in the improvement of flour functional properties. In this study, potato flour viscosity was improved through a specific expression of a low-molecular-weight glutenin (LMW-GS-MB1) gene in tuber. The resulting construct was introduced into potato leaf explants (Solanum tuberosum cv Kennebec) through Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated gene transfer. Southern and Northern analysis of transgenic potato confirmed that the integration of LMW-GS-MB1 in genomic DNA was stable and its mRNA was abundant in transgenic line 16 tubers. Western blot analysis of line 16 extract shows a LMW-GS subunit accumulation in tuber. To demonstrate the capacity of transgenic lines to produce tubers with improved flour functional properties, transgenic lines 9 and 16 exhibiting, respectively, moderate and high expression of LMW-GS-MB1 mRNA and nontransgenic plants were transferred to field plots. The mean viscosity value of flour obtained from the field-grown tubers of transgenic line 16 exhibited a 3-fold increase in viscosity at 23 degrees C when compared to flour from nontransgenic tubers.

Cel6B of Thermobifidus fusca and a Cel5-CBM6 of Ruminococcus albus containing a cellulose binding site show synergistic effect on hydrolysis of native plant cellulose.

Hydrolysis of cellulose requires two different types of cellulases: exo- and endocellulase. Here, we investigated for the hydrolysis of cellulose by two types of cellulases, an endoglucanase (Cel5) from Ruminococcus albus fused with the xylanase A cellulose binding domain II (CBM6) of Clostridium stercorarium and Thermobifidus fusca E3, an exoglucanase (Cel6B). Cel5-CBM6 or Cel6B showed a linear relationship between the production of soluble sugars and the incubation time when native alfalfa cellulose was used as a substrate. Cel5-CBM6 produces more soluble sugars than Cel6B and the hydrolysis of cellulose by a mixture of the two enzymes produces substantially more (22%) soluble sugars than the total amount produced by these enzymes individually. Although Cel5-CBM6 solubilized high quantities of sugars from alfalfa cellulose, it did not significantly decrease its crystallinity, while Cel6B decreased the crystallinity of cellulose by 34%. When the two cellulases were combined, a decrease of more than 50% in the content of crystalline cellulose was observed. The enzyme-gold labeling experiments revealed that both enzymes showed a high affinity for all substrates. Furthermore, simultaneous visualization of the enzyme-binding sites revealed the preferred substrates in native lignocellulosic material. When plant cellulose was pre-incubated with Cel5-CBM6, density of the gold labeling greatly increased suggesting that preliminary exposure of lignocellulosic material to Cel5-CBM6 may have enhanced the accessibility of the substrate to Cel5-CBM6 and Cel6B. This result provides a plausible explanation for the observed endo/exo cellulase synergism during hydrolysis.

Oxygen deficiency affects carbohydrate reserves in overwintering forage crops.

Anaerobic conditions developing under an ice cover affect winter survival and spring regrowth of economically important perennial crops. The objective was to compare, during a prolonged period of low (<2%) O2 at low temperature, the concentration of carbohydrates of four plant species contrasting in their resistance to oxygen deficiency. Four perennial forage species, lucerne (Medicago sativa L.), red clover (Trifolium pratense L.), timothy (Phleum pratense L.), and cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.) were subjected to a progressively developing oxygen deficiency stress by enclosing potted plants in gas-tight bags in late autumn for overwintering in an unheated greenhouse. Timothy was previously reported to be more resistant to oxygen deficiency than the three other species. Non-structural carbohydrates increased and remained at a higher concentration in timothy than in the other three species under low O2 concentration. Concentrations of sucrose, fructose, glucose, and fructans increased in response to oxygen deficiency in timothy, whereas the concentration of soluble sugars decreased under the same conditions in lucerne, red clover, and cocksfoot. The gene expression of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase increased in response to low oxygen concentration in oxygen deficiency-sensitive lucerne while it remained unchanged in the oxygen deficiency-resistant timothy. It is concluded that timothy maintains higher carbohydrate reserves under oxygen deficiency, a specific feature that could favour its winter survival and spring regrowth.